Cylinder head construction for water-cooled engines



4 Sheets-Sheet 1 F. A. LEE

CYLINDER HEAD CONSTRUCTION FOR WATER COOLED ENGINES J FRED A. LEE y PMQ-3M ATTORNEY May 16, 1950 Filed April 25, 1947 F. A. LEE

May 16, 1950 CYLINDER HEAD CONSTRUCTION FOR WATER COOLED ENGINES FiledApril 23, 1947 N w z I t w 9w Y a m" WED M A a E; \N m M w W w m W A G WN F MM V b\.um I. P QR w m QM aw EN mm NHQK A I M6 0 o Q MMAV OQG OQWQMQo @WWWG v E E I Q: EE C 5% F. A. LEE

May 16, 1950 CYLINDER HEAD CONSTRUCTION FOR WATER COOLED ENGINES FiledApril 23, "1947 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR- FRED A. LEE

ATTORNEY BJPmULG- PM F. A. LEE

May 16, 1950 CYLINDER HEAD CONSTRUCTION FOR WATER COOLED ENGINES 4Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed April 23, 1947 5M mLp N D@ E,. R M 3 v! 8 m I ATTOR/VEY Patented May 16, 195

CYLINDER HEAD CONSTRUCTION FOR VVATER-COOLED ENGINES Fred A. Lee, FortWayne, Ind., assignor to International Harvester Company, a corporationof New Jersey Application April 23, 1947, Serial No. 743,364

16 Claims.

i This invention relates to a cylinder head for internal combustionengines and the like and more particularly to a cylinder head of thefabricated light-wei ht sheet metal type.

The advantages of fabricated cylinder heads and similar enginecomponents are well known. It is also well known that these advantagescannot always be easily and inexpensively achieved. In the design andconstruction of fabricated cylinder heads, for example, various problemsmust be taken into consideration and it has heretofore been ratherdifiicult to eliminate all these problems and provide a satisfactorystructure.

A principal object of the present invention is to provide an improvedfabricated cylinder head in which the component partsare fabricated asunits to as great an extent as possible and then assembled to completethe head. An important object is to provide the main structure'of thehead as a plurality of plates assembled to provide generally a box-likestructure. Other objects are to provide suitable openings in the platesto accommodate individual combustion chambers, valve openings, sparkplug openings, andexhaust and intake openings and ports therefor inconnection with the combustion chambers. Still another object is toconstruct the cylinder head in such a manner that it may be readilyconnected to the coolant circulating system of certain conventionaltypes of internal combustion engines.

The foregoing and other important objects will appear in greater detailin the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanyingsheets of drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a preferred form of fabricated cylinder head.

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the cylinder head as viewed alongthe line 2--2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a side view taken from the other side of the head, asindicated by the line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is an end elevation taken of one end of the head as viewedalong the line i-4 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is an end view of the other end of the head as viewed along theline 5-5 of Figure 1.

Figure 6 is a transverse sectional view through the head taken on theline 68 of Figure 1.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view through the headtaken on the line 7-! of Figure 1.

Figure 8 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view, on an enlargedscale, taken on the line 8--8 of Figure 6.

Figure 9 is a fragmentary view taken on the line 9-9 of Figure 8 andshowing one of the Siamese manifold ports.

Figure 10 is an enlarged exploded view showing the components inend-elevation that make up thehead structure.

The cylinder head chosen for the purposes of illustration comprises abottomor base plate 23, of generally rectangular shapahaving onelongitudinal edge thereof bent upwardly to form a longitudinal verticalside wall or plate 2|. The upper edge of the plate 2| is rigidly securedby Welding or brazing, as indicated 2.1222, to a generally rectangularupper or top plate 23. The plates 26 and 23 are preferably parallel andare spaced vertically apart at one edge of the head structure by theside wall 2| and at the other side of the headbya plurality of verticaltubular spacers 2d, additional spacers "25 bein provided inlongitudinally spacedrelation adjacent the side wall 2| (Figures 6 and8). The ends of the head structure are closed by opposite end walls 26(Figures 3, 4. and 7) and 27 (Figures 3 and 5). The bottom plate 20 isprovided with aplurality of longitudinally alined circular openings 23(Figures 8 and 10), within each of which ismounted a combustion chamber29. The combustion chamber is generally in the form of an inverted cupbustion chamber is welded to the plate '20 around the-circular junctionbetween the circular Wall 3| and the plate, as indicated at 32.

The circular radial wall of each combustion chamber 253 is pressedoutwardly toprovide a portion 33 apertured at 34 to receive a collar 35(Figure 10). The'collar includes a sleeve portion 36 that fits theaperture 34 in the portion 33, and the collar is welded or brazed to theportion 33. The collar includes an axial threaded bore 31 (Figured)adapted toreceive a spark plug (not shown). The collar is additionallyprovided with a coaxial sleeve38 formed with a counterbore 39.

A longitudinally extending side plate it-is carried at the side of thehead .opposite the side wall 2|. This plate 40 is provided atlongitudinally spaced points'thereof with inwardly formed portions 4|,each of which is apertured at 42 to receive the reduced'sleeve 38 on thecollar 35. The .upper and lower edges of the plate 4|] are flanged at 43and 44, respectively, and are welded or brazed, respectively, to theunder surface of theupper plate 23 and'the upper surface of the basep1ate'20. The opposite ends of the side plate include integralendflanges 45 welded or brazed at 56 to the end plates 26 and 21. A ring4'! is interposed between each collar 35 and proximate depressed portion4| of the side plate 49. A second ring 63 fits over that portion of thereduced sleeve 36 that extends outwardly through the opening 42 in theportion 4| of the plate 49. The surplus portion of each sleeve 38 thatprojects outwardly beyond the ring 48 is spun or flanged over the ringand is further Welded or brazed to secure the plate 46 to the collars35, as at 49 (Figures 6 and 8) Each combustion chamber 29 is provided inits radial wall portion 30 with a pair of valve openings 59 and (Figures7 and 8). The openings 59 and 5| will be referred to as the exhaust andintake openings respectively. It will be noted that these openings arereversed in successive combustion chambers (Figure 8) so that theopenings 5| are closely adjacent, the purpose of which will presentlyappear. Each exhaust opening 56 is fitted with an exhaust port 52, theinner end portion of which includes an elbow having an integral collar53 which fits a ring 53 which in turn fits the opening 50 in thecombustion chamber (Figure 7). A circular valve seat or ring 54 alsofits the rin 53" (Figure '7) and is, of course, coaxial with the collar53 on the exhaust port elbow. The exhaust port is preferably formed ofupper and lower halves welded or brazed together as at 55 (Figures 6 and'7) to form the complete port assembly.

The side plate 2| is provided with a plurality of longitudinally spacedopenings 56 (Figure 2) which respectively receive the outer ends of theexhaust ports 52, the connections between the plate 25 and the ports 52being accomplished by welding or brazing. The plate 2| is further provided with tapped bores 51 adjacent each opening 56. These bores areprovided for receiving cap screws, by means of which an exhaust manifold(not shown) may be attached to the head structure.

Each exhaust port 52 includes in its upper wall a vertical opening 58,within which is carried the lower end of a vertical tubular member 59.The upper plate 23 is provided with a plurality of openings 60 whichreceive the upper ends of the members 59 (Figure 7) The member 59 iswelded or brazed at its opposite ends to the plate 23 and exhaust port52 as at El and 62, respectively. The welding or brazing operation bywhich the joint is accomplished between each member 59 and exhaust port52 is performed before the exhaust port is assembled in place in thehead structure and is preferably performed as one of a series ofoperations by which the combustion chambers 29 are assembled to theirassociated exhaust and intake ports, the latter of which will bedescribed presently.

The members 59 serve, first, as tubular spacers between the exhaustports 52 and plate 23 and, second, as means for carrying valve guides63. The valve guides are, of course, coaxial with the valve seats 54.

The intake opening 5| in each of a pair of adjacent combustion chambers29 is fitted with a ring 64 (Figures '7 and and each ring receives acollar portion 65 formed as an integral part of a Siamese intake portindicated generally by the numeral 66. The port 66 preferably comprisesupper and lower halves welded or brazed together along the lineindicated at 61 (Figure '7) to complete the port. That portion of theSiamese port 66 that extends at a right angle to the portion includingthe collars 95 communicates with an opening 68 in the side wall 2| ofthe head structure, it being understood that there are three suchopenings 68 for three Siamese ports 66 to accommodate six intake valveopenings 5|. The plate 2| is provided with a pair of tapped bores 69adjacent each intake opening 68, for the purpose of receiving capscrews, by means of which an intake manifold (not shown) may be attachedto the head structure. The upper portion of each intake port 69 isprovided with a pair of spaced openings 10, each of which receives thelower end of a vertical tubular spacer H. The upper end of each spaceris carried in an opening 12 formed in the upper plate 23 coaxial withthe opening 10 in the intake port 66. The spacers are welded or brazedas at 13 to the intake ports 66, this operation being preferablyperformed in a series of operations that includes the assembling of theports before installation in the head structure. Subsequently the upperends of the sleeves H are welded or brazed to the upper plate 23. Eachsleeve H carries therein a vertical valve guide 14. The valve guides Mlike the valve guides 13 are preferably formed of upper and lowercoaxial sections (Figures 7 and 10).

The rings 66, which receive the collars 95 of the intake ports 66 andwhich fit the intake openings 5| in the combustion chambers 29, alsocarry circular valve seats or rings 15 (Figure '7).

A plurality of pairs of tubular members 16 extend vertically from thebase plate 20 upwardly through the upper plate 23 to a short distanceabove the upper plate. These members 16 are rigidly secured, as bywelding or brazing, to the upper and lower plates, and the upperextensions thereof serve to carry rocker arm structure (not shown) foroperating valves (not shown) carried in the valve guides 63 and '14. Theupper plate 23 is provided at one corner thereof with a rectangularopening I! bordered with a machined surface 18 having a pair of tappedbores 19, by means of which a coolant-circulating connection (not shown)may be made. The end wall 26 is provided with a similar opening andtapped bores 8|, for the purpose of accomplishing a similar connection.

The tapped bores 51 and 69 adjacentthe exhaust and intake openings 56and 68, respectively, in the side Wall 2| of the head structure arereenforced by a plurality of members 82 (Figures 8 and 10), each ofwhich includes a tapped bore coincident with its proximate tapped borein the side wall 2|.

In the assembly of the head structure it is preferable to preassemblevarious units. For example, it is desirable to place the combustionchambers 29 in position in the openings 28 of the bottom plate 29,suitable jigs being utilized to position these elements properly. Theexhaust and intake ports, being in two halves, are preferablypreassembled and then assembled to the combustion chambers, positioningof the rings 53 and 64 and valve seats 55 and 15 being accomplished atthe same time. The spacers 24 and 25 and the vertical tubes 16 may thenbe assembled to the bottom plate 20, and the tubular members 59 and Hand valve guides 93 and 74 may then be assembled to the ports 52 and 69,after which the upper plate 3 may be located, assembled and secured bywelding or brazing. This operation may be followed by installation ofthe side plate 49, the collars 35 having been previously assembled tothe combustion chambers 29. However, the procedure by which the headstructure is assembled may be varied at will, depending upon planning.and equipment. It is essential, of course, that the joints accomplished:by welding vor brazing between the components be fluid-tight.

Ihe disclosure as set forth herein is, of course, directed to apreferred embodiment of the invention, and the exact details ofconstruction illustrated and described should not be taken asdelineating the applicability of the invention, for

numerous modifications and alterations may be i made this preferredstructure without departing from the spirit and scope of the inventionas set forth in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A fabricated cylinder head for an internal combustion en ine,comprising: a generally flat horizontal bottem plate of rectangularshape having one longitudinal edge thereof bent up to provide a longiinal side wall; means providing a plurality of .l ular openings in thebottom plate; a pluralityof combustion chamber elements, each includingan inverted cup, respectively fitting the circular openings and rigidlysecured to the plate; means providing a pair of Valve openings in eachcombustion chamber element; means providing a plurality oflongitudinally spaced intake and exhaust openings in the side wall;means including intake ports rigidly secured to the side Wall and to thecombustion chamber elements and connecting the intake openings with oneof the pair of valve openings in each combustion chamber element; andmeans including exhaust ports rigidly secured to the side wall and tothe combustion chambers and connecting the exhaust openings with theother of the pair of valve openings in each combustion chamber element.

2. A fabricated cylinder head as set forth in claim 1, furthercharacterized in that: a generally fiat upper plate is spaced verticallyabove the bottom plate and is rigidly joined to an upper edge portion ofthe side wall; and vertical spacers are rigidly secured at opposite endsto the bottom and upper plates.

3. A fabricated cylinder head as set forth in claim 2, furthercharacterized in that: additional vertical spacers in the form oftubular elements are rigidly secured at opposite ends to the upper plateand to the combustion chamber elements coaxially with the valve openingstherein; and means are carried by the vertical tubular elements andserve as valve guides.

4. A fabricated cylinder head as set forth in claim 1, furthercharacterized in that: each combustion chamber element includes a sparkplug opening having its axis directed away from the side wall; an upperplate of size and shape generally similar to the bottom plate is spacedvertically above and parallel to the bottom plate; means rigidly joinsone longitudinal edge of the upper plate to an upper edge portion of theside wall; and a side plate provided vertically between the upper andbottom plates at the sides thereof opposite the side wall, said sideplate having its upper and lower edge portions respectively rigidlyjoined to the upper and bottom plates, said side plate further includinga plurality of openings coinciding with the spark plug openings.

5. A fabricated cylinder head as set forth in claim 4, furthercharacterized in that: all the aforesaid joints between the parts of theassembly are water-tight; end plates are provided at opposite ends ofthe assembly and are rigidly secured to the side wall and to the upperbottom and side plates to provide a water-tight joint; and meansincluding a water-tight joint is provided chamber surrounding thejuncture of each spark plug opening and associated side plate opening.

6. A fabricated cylinder head as set forth in claim 5, furthercharacterized in that: the upper plate and one of theend plates are eachprovided with a coolant opening, one of the openings being an inletopening and the other an outlet open.- ing for connection to a coolantsystem.

7. A fabricated cylinder head for an internal combustion engine,comprising: a lightweight, sheet metal, generally horizontal bottomplate; means providing a lightweight, sheet metal side wall rigidlyjoined to the plate; means providing a circular opening in the bottomplate; a combustion chamber element including an inverted cup fittingthe circular opening and rigidly seowed to the plate; means providing apair of valve openings in the combustion chamber element; meansproviding intake and exhaust openings in the side wall; and meansincluding intake and exhaust ports rigidly secured to the side wall andto the combustion chamber element and connecting the intake and exhaustopenings with the valve openings in the combustion chamber elements.

8. A combustion chamber for a fabricated, lightweight cylinder head,comprising: a lightweight sheet metal element shaped as an inverted cuphaving a generally circular radial wall portion and an integraldepending annular flange; means forming a pair of valve openings in theradial wall portion; and means in the radial wall portion including anoutwardly pressed portion having an opening therethrough'incommunication with the interior of the chamber and adapted to receive aspark plug or the like.

9. In a fabricated, lightweight cylinder head, the combination of: abase plate; means providing an opening in the base plate; a lightweightsheet metal combustion chamber having a radial wall portion and anintegral peripheral flange, the latter fitting the opening in the baseplate and being rigidly secured to the base plate; means in the radialwall portion providing an opening therethrough; an upstanding side platerigidly joined to the base plate and having an opening therein alinedwith the opening in the combustion chamber; a cup-shaped member fittingthe side plate opening and having an opening in its bottom coincidentwith the opening in the combustion chamber, the bottom of the cup-shapedmember being rigidly secured to the combustion chamber around theopening therein; and means providing a flange on the cup rigidly securedto the side plate around the opening therein.

10. A fabricated, lightweight, sheet metal cylinder head, comprising: abase plate, a top plate, opposed end plates and opposed side plates,each of generally flat, rectangular shape and all rigidly securedtogether to provide a box-like structure; means providing a row ofopenings in the bottom plate; means providing a row of openings in oneof the side plates; and a plurality of separate combustion chambersrespectively fitting said bottom plate openings and secured to thebottom plate and including ports in communication with the side plateopenings and secured to said side plate.

11. A cylinder head as set forth in claim 10, further characterized inthat: the opposite side plate includes a plurality of spark plugopenings. one for each combustion chamber; and the combustion chamberseach include a spark plug 7 opening respectively alined with the sparkplug openings in the side plate.

, 12. A cylinder head as set forth in claim 10, further characterized inthat: the bottom and top plates are separated by a plurality of spacers,certain of which include a set of vertical tubes providing Openingsthrough the structure for receiving studs or the like to secure the headto an engine block.

13. A cylinder head as set forth in claim 12, further characterized inthat: certain of the vertical tubes extend upwardly beyond the top plateand serve to receive engine components.

14. A cylinder head as set forth in claim 13, further characterized inthat: certain of the first set of vertical tubes extend upwardly beyondthe top plate and serve to carry valve-operating mechanism.

15. A fabricated, lightweight, sheet metal cylinder head, comprising: abase plate, a top plate,

opposed end plates and opposed side plates, each of generally fiat,rectangular shape and all rigidly secured together to provide a box-likestructure; the base and top plates being separated by a plurality ofspacers, certain of which include a set of vertical tubes providingopenings through the structure for receiving studs and the like tosecure the head to an engine block; means providing a row of openings inthe bottom plate;

means providing a row of openings in one of the extending between thecombustion chambers and the top plate respectively coaxial with thevalve openings and the openings in the top plate.

16. A combustion chamber and valve port assembly for a fabricated,lightweight cylinder head, comprising: a lightweight, sheet metalcombustion chamber having the shape of an inverted cup and including agenerally circular radial wall portion and an integral annular flange;means providing a circular valve opening in the radial wall portion; anda valve port including a generally tubular portion fitted within thevalve opening and rigidly secured to the radial wall portion; said valveportion being additionally provided with a tubular elbow portion thatprojects away from the combustion chamber; and having said elbow formedas an element split along the axis of the projecting tubular portion,the split parts being welded together to provide the unitary elbow.

FRED A. LEE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,322,255 Maire Nov. 18, 19191,647,848 Woolson Nov. 1, 1927 1,659,676 Vincent Feb. 21, 1928 1,838,436Morrill Dec. 29, 1931 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 281,106 GreatBritain 1927 281,484 Great Britain 1927 595,215 France 1925

